Al Jazeera names CNBC's Oliver to lead PR and marketing

February 25, 2005
by Donna Werbner

LONDON – Al Jazeera, the Arabic satellite news network, has appointed CNBC director of network Lindsay Oliver to head its PR and marketing as it prepares to launch its English-language service in November.

Oliver will take on the role of director of commercial affairs and will be based in Doha in Qatar home to the Middle Eastern network.

The channel is currently in talks with UK agencies about its ongoing account pitch and plans to hold discussions with US-based agencies next week.

Her appointment follows news the channel, which has been the source of many damning news reports on the US/UK position in Iraq, is to be sold off and go public on the stock market.

There are few details available concerning the privitisation plan for the network, which is owned and financed by the emirate of Qatar in the Persian Gulf. In a recent statement Al Jazeera said that the form of privatisation is to be decided over the coming months.

Oliver will oversee all marketing and PR activities. Oliver is being joined at Al Jazeera by Charlotte Dent who left Hill & Knowlton to take up the role of PR and marketing executive last week, while Nashwa Nasreldin joined as marketing executive from Middle-Eastern TV channel Showtime earlier this year.

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